Sieve litter scoop

Abstract

The present invention provides an animal refuse scoop comprising a scoop, and a handle attached to the scoop. The scoop defines a top and bottom surface, and a plurality of openings therein. The openings are defined to allow the passage of litter granules therethrough. A cover, having a solid body and a handle attached to the solid body, is pivotably attached to the scoop handle, with the cover solid body being adjacent to the scoop bottom surface. The cover solid body is adapted to matingly cover the scoop openings. A biasing means is attached to the handle, and engages the cover, allowing movement of the cover between a closed position wherein the cover handle is disposed away from the scoop handle and the cover solid body is adjacent to the scoop bottom surface and matingly covering the scoop openings, and an open position wherein the cover is disposed away from the scoop bottom surface and the cover handle is adjacent to the scoop handle. The biasing means biases the cover into the closed position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An animal refuse scoop comprising: 
 (i) a scoop;    (ii) a handle attached to the scoop;    (iii) the scoop defining a top surface and a bottom surface, and a plurality of openings therein, the openings being defined to allow granules to pass therethrough;    (iv) a cover having a solid body and a handle attached to said solid body, the cover being pivotably attached to the scoop handle, the cover solid body being adjacent to the scoop bottom surface and adapted to matingly cover the scoop openings;    (v) a biasing means attached to the handle, the biasing means engaging the cover and being adapted to allow movement of the cover between a closed position wherein the cover handle is disposed away from the scoop handle and the cover solid body is adjacent to the scoop bottom surface and matingly covering the scoop openings, and an open position wherein the cover is disposed away from the scoop bottom surface and scoop openings, and the cover handle is adjacent to the scoop handle; and    (vi) the biasing means biases the cover into the closed position.    
     
     
         2 . The animal refuse scoop as defined in  claim 1  wherein the biasing means is a tension spring.  
     
     
         3 . The animal refuse scoop as defined in  claim 1  wherein the biasing means is a wound coil.  
     
     
         4 . The litter scoop as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of fingers attached to the cover solid body.  
     
     
         5 . The litter scoop as defined in  claim 1  wherein the cover is pivotably releasably attached to the scoop handle.